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23 || charity

"Hurry up, Nayeon! Could your stumpy-ass granny legs move any slower?!"

"Wow, rude much?"

"Well, if you don't want me to be rude, walk faster!" Jeongyeon turned her back on the girl and stormed down the street towards their destination.

The pair soon arrived in front of a quaint little shop framed by the afternoon sun. The storefront was quite minimalistic, sporting pale pink walls with a creamy white stripe that slashed horizontally across the store front above tiny, green tiles. Succulents and ferns of various sizes were scattered around the exterior mosaic footpath that snaked up to the pedestrian walkway. Creeping vines crawled over the awning and bay window, which housed a bright display of cushions, rugs, and other household items.

Arm in arm, they strolled through the glass door and into the shop, greeting the young woman standing at the cash register before immediately separating to look for things that they'd like for the apartment. They wandered around the first floor for a while, picking up pillows and throws, checking prices and textiles.

After a while, Jeongyeon ditched her friend on the ground floor, and instead scaled the ladder which led to the loft style upper story, which displayed cute kitchenware and house plants. The second floor heavily reflected the exterior of the shop. Climbing vines and realistic artificial flowers covered the walls and shelving units, creating a whimsical and overgrown effect. Weaving in and out of the furniture and racks, she made mental notes of what she liked, disliked, and wanted for herself. She was just skimming along a shelf full of succulents and low maintenance plants when she collided with a warm body, followed by the sound of something heavy hitting the floor with a loud thud.

The person was wearing a pair of black skinny jeans that hugged their frame closely paired with a huge yellow hoodie that covered their face. Jeongyeon tilted her head at the figure. They looked vaguely familiar. Returning to her senses, she frantically apologized to the unrecognizable individual.

"Oh my goodness! I am so sorry! Here, let me get this for you." She bent down to collect the object that had fallen but was roughly shoved aside by a pale and delicate hand.

The stranger shook their head and spoke in a raspy, feminine voice. It sounded as though she smoked or had a throat infection. "It's okay. I'll get it. Don't bother."

Jeongyeon strained her neck to catch a glimpse of the figure's face but failed to do so. Instead, she refocused her attention on the heavy item that had hit the ground. It was a small but ornately detailed, golden picture frame. The frame currently held a stock photo of a couple laughing and holding hands. Jeongyeon reached out to tap the stranger on the shoulder.

"Again, I'm sorry for walking into you. Is the frame damaged? I can pay for it to make it up to you-" She was cut off by the figure who abruptly gripped her wrist and yanked her closer to them. The motion caused the hood to slide out of place, revealing a clear-skinned, pale girl. She had an ovular face and deep-set, dark eyes that were tilted into an angry expression.

"I don't need your help, okay? Take your idol money and leave me alone. I don't want your charity." The bizarre young woman stormed off down the aisle back in the direction of the ladder, leaving a dumbstruck Jeongyeon gaping behind her.

What was that about? All she'd done was offer to help her! The young woman looked awfully familiar, but Jeongyeon couldn't quite put her finger on why. And why was she so defensive about an empty picture frame? It was kinda ugly if she was being honest. The odd girl let off an eerie, unsettling vibe that she didn't like one bit.

Shaking off the uncomfortable feeling, Jeongyeon turned to continue down the aisle when something caught her eye. Tucked between two potted plants on the ground was a bundle of poorly taken polaroid photographs. The weird woman must have dropped them in her rush to leave.

Jeongyeon scooped them up to take a closer look, but instead let out a little shriek of horror.

The photos were of her.

One was from the lunch she'd had with Jimin, Nayeon and Taehyung a week ago. The next was of her folding her clothes at the TWICE dorm and laughing with someone out of the shot. She continued shuffling through the stack, her fear slowly rising.

There were so many. Some were of her doing meagre, insignificant things in public such as eating in a popular location, walking, or tying her hair up as she moved. She choked on her saliva as she glanced at some that were not as innocently taken. There was one of her putting her make-up on in her old room and another of her getting changed, thankfully wearing a modest sports bra and long bike shorts that protected her from even more embarrassment.

Worst of all, there were two from that very morning. Her hands trembled as she scanned the one of her sleeping with Nayeon, somewhat reassured by the fact that her friend's head had been cut out of the frame. The second photo was of her shivering on the balcony, arguing with someone who was out of the shot. She assumed that the unknown person was Jimin.

Chills ran through her body. She didn't know what to do. Should she leave them there or take them with her? Loud footsteps thudded in the distance, and Jeongyeon frantically shoved them into her satchel and moved further down the aisle trying to look less suspicious.

"There you are! I've been looking everywhere for you!"

Jeongyeon nearly gave herself whiplash as she whirled around to give Nayeon a hug.

"What's with the affectionate greeting? I thought you'd still be pissed about me and my grandma legs."

Reluctantly, Jeongyeon released her grip on her best friend and gulped, trying to control her emotions. "I just decided that I should show you some love before you pass away from old age. It's coming faster than you'd think." It was an embarrassingly weak come back, but it would have to do.

She forced a tight smile and prayed that it would be enough to convince Nayeon and her eagle eye that she was completely fine.

The older girl squinted. "Sure. Anyway, Jihyo just texted and has told me that I need to rerecord some of my draft run for Make Me Go. They lost the original recording somehow."

Jeongyeon gulped. "Are you leaving then?"

"Unfortunately, yeah. I'll just pay for what I want and go. Do you want a ride back to the apartment or dorm?"

Flustered, Jeongyeon rapidly shook her head. "I'll be fine. I might just... look around for a bit longer. Is that okay?"

"Of course!" Nayeon flashed her a dazzling grin. "Just stay safe and let me know when you get back to the apartment or dorm. See ya!"

Before Jeongyeon could even process what was happening, her friend was already down the ladder and headed towards the till. A few moments later chiming bells echoed through the shop, signaling someone's departure.

She waited a few more minutes before sinking onto her knees and leaning against a rack. Now what? Should she put the photos back and act like she'd never seen them? Unfortunately, they were no longer in their original order.

Jeongyeon sat silently in thought before concluding. She would take them home and hide them. Maybe burn them somehow.

After catching her breath, the girl rose to her feet and brushed herself off, patting the bundle of photographs in her satchel. A crack of thunder sounded outside, and she jumped.

It's fine. Everything is fine.